One the new city council's first tests as the city's legislative body emerged during a public meeting regarding adjustments for the city's community development block grant plan.

The proposal presented by Interim City Manager Dennis Speer called for that the city amend the plan and apply all funds for a transition plan to identify and survey ADA improvements the city needed.

"We have been required to have a ADA transition plan for some years," Speer said. "If the day comes when they ask for it, they can withhold funds."

The original intent for the five-year plan grant process included $75,000 for upgrades on the building leased to the Southern Sierra Boys and Girls Club and $75,000 to develop a plan for GPAC Pocket Park, $150,000 in FY 13-14 for wheelchair ramp improvements and $150,000 for street lighting districts in FY 14-15.

The hitch: the plan had to be submitted to Kern County no later than Friday.

Speer updated the council Thursday that the county had agreed to extend the application deadline to Jan 16, 2012.

Clark said the grant funding was reliant on certain criteria such as public improvements or infrastructure related to recreational or community development plans.

Speer recommended that the plan be amended to reallocate funds earmarked for the Boys and Girls Club, the pocket park and the lighting district toward developing and implementing the city's ADA plan.

Speer explained that maintaining a street lighting district would eat through the city budget, and the pocket park was in limbo because a private entity could no longer execute any agreements.

The recommendation immediately came under fire from many Boys and Girls Club representatives.

Dennis Young, president of the board of directors of for the Boys and Girls Club, commented the need was important that they have the money.

"We're in a city building that is getting to small for our program and we would like to expand that and grounds around it," Young said.

Young said the original intent had been applying to buses for transportation, but was told it did not fall under the grant's criteria.

Club member Sawyer Chrisman said the Boys and Girls Club was essential.

"If we didn't have a Boys and Girls Club, we would have no place to go where we would talk about what happened that day," Chrisman said. "I would really like for us to improve it."

Ridgecrest resident Mike Neel took the council to task whether the city should fund the expansion using the CDBG funding.

"Limited government doesn't really seem to provide babysitting services" Neel said. "It should be community and parents providing that."

The comment drew sharp rebuttal from newly seated Councilwoman Lori Acton, who sat on the Boys and Girls Club.

Page 2 of 3 - "I would just like to let you know that the Boys and Girls Club is paid for by the parents that take their kids there," Acton said. "Nowhere does the government come into play at all."

Acton said the Boys and Girls Club had submitted things in the past and Kern County had turned them down and the point now was to move forward on plans the organization had.

"Our carpet is held together by duct tape in there," she said. "You don't think we can't do some rehab in there?"

Newly sworn in Mayor Dan Clark pointed out the same building conditions applied to the senior center, and the proposal moved away from the original staff recommendation.

The overall suggestion: $95,000 for the Boys and Girls Club expansion, $200,000 to rehabilitate the senior center building and $5,000 for proposed public art in certain areas of the city.

The council moved back and forth on what to consider, especially given the looming Friday deadline.

Newly seated Councilman Jim Sanders said he felt he would have hard time approving something like that.

"We really have so many things that we are behind on in this city," Sanders said. "We have massive deficits in our infrastructure."

Mayor Pro Tem Jason Patin said he was concerned they were not going along with any of staff suggestions.

"W need to make sure this doesn't come back to bite us," he said.

Acton used Measure L as an illustrative point that the city should find other funding sources to fix ADA requirements, stirring up concern from the public.

"Measure L will be a battle and a fight," Patin pointed out. While certainly within the scope of the measure's goal, some pointed out that it would be ethically unsound.

The deciding factor was summarized by new Vice Mayor Chip Holloway.

"This is just bad public policy to make a decision," Holloway said. Holloway pointed out that approving something without a clear-cut plan in hand was a gutsy move.

Thursday's Calmer Meeting

The public meeting adjourned to Thursday at 4 p.m., where city council opened up the floor once more.

The meeting in general was much calmer, but underlying issues still lingered implied uses of Measure L funds .

Acton clarified her comment from the previous night, stating she had used Measure L only as an example.

Speer informed the council and the public of the Jan. 16 application extension as well as the suggestion that county and city staffs work together.

Public comment initially touched on the misspoken comment about utilizing Measure L as an alternate source of funds for the ADA Transition Plan. Council, however, directed that public comment be kept to the CDBG application.

Page 3 of 3 - Ridgecrest business owner Tom Wiknich said this particular agenda item was an example of transparency.

"The only way the public know is by the agenda that comes out," Wiknich said.

Wiknich pointed out the staff's recommendation the best option given the city's need for ADA upgrades.

"I think ADA compliance should be the number one priority for the city," Wiknich said.

Young, the Boys and Girls Club board president, said he didn't care about Measure L. He insisted that CDBGs were designed specifically for what the organization was asking for.

Phil Salvatore cautioned that many disabled veterans were coached to look out for ADA violations and how to file a law suit.

In the end, both Patin and Holloway suggested follow the county suggestion that county and city staffs work together.

Sanders agreed, saying it would give more time to provide a more thorough plan.